Absorption cycle temperature control apparatus



' June ll, 1935. y G. wlLKl-:s ErAL 2,004,843

ABSQRPTIN CYCLE TEMPERATURE CONTROL APPARATUS -Ju n e 1 1? 1935.'l

G. wlLKEs E- r'AL 2,004,843

ABSORPTION CYCLE TEMPERATURE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Aug] 4, 1 952 2sheets-sheet 2 Patented June 11, 1935 PATENT OFFICE ABSORPTION CYCLETEMPERATURE CONTROL APPARATUS Gilbert Wilkes, Jacksonwald, and John S.Avery,

Pennside, Pa., assignors to Wilkes Avery Corporation, New York, New YorkN. Y., a corporation of' Application August 4, 1932, Serial No. 627.500

12 Claims.

This invention relates to absorption cycle temperature controlapparatus, and more particularly to an absorption cycle heat pumpapparatus for use in heating a given area.

An important object of the present invention is the provision in anapparatus of this character of an arrangement such that an auxiliaryheater is automatically brought into play during peak heating demands. I

A further object of the invention is the arrangement of an absorptioncycle heat pump in use in heating a given area so that the heating meansof the generator-absorber may be caused to supply auxiliary heat duringpeaklloads on the apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of anarrangement such that a portion of the condenser of the heat pump cyclemay act as the auxiliary heater during peak loads and may be controlledby the vaporization of the absorption liquid of the cycle resultingduring peak loads.

.A further object of the invention is the provision in an arrangementofthis character, in which the generator-absorber is heated indirectly bya. heating means, of apparatus -whereby an auxiliary heater arrangementin the heat pump cycle is automatically connected with the heater of thegenerator-absorber during peak loads.

These and other objects we attain by the construction shown in theaccompanying drawings wherein, for the purpose of illustration we haveshown a preferred embodiment of our invention and wherein: v

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a heat pump cycle controlling theheating of a-given area embodying auxiliary heating means in accordancewith our invention; and

Fig. 2 is a diagram of a modied construction.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. lthereohthe numeral I0 generally designates the generator-absorber of vanabsorption cycle heat pump at present illustratively shown as comprisinga drum having a central passage II therethrough dening an annularchamber I2 for the reception of an absorption iiuid and a containedrefrigerant such as ammonia. It will, of course, be understood that theillustration herein provided is entirely diagrammatic and that thegenerator-absorber may be equipped with the usual refinements to promotethe e'iciency thereof. The annular chamber II) is heated throughsuitable heating means at present indicated as a gas burner i3 receivingits supply through a conduit I 4 including an electrically controlledvalve I5. The cycle further includes a condenser C comprising a mainsect-ion IB and a secondary section I1, of which the main section I6 isconnected at its upper end with the outlet of chamber I2 through aconduit I8 and 5 at its upper and lower ends with the secondary sectionI1 through conduits I9 and 20, each containing a liquid seal 2I or thelike. .The lower end of the section I6 is connected with the upper endof the section I1 through a conduit 22, this con- 10 duit communicatingwith the conduit 20 between the seal 2i thereof and the lower end ofsection I6 and with the conduit I9 between the seal 2I thereof and theouter end of section I1 so that there is normally a flow of refrigerantfrom the 15 sections I6 through the conduit 22 and through section I'I.The lower end of section* I1 is in communication, through a conduit 23,with an evaporator which is connected to the conduit I8 by a conduit 25containing a check valve 28 20 opening toward the generator-absorber I0.Conduit 23 preferably includes means, as a trap, indicated at 21whichwill permit passage of liquids to evaporator 24 while preventingthe passage of gases thereto.

The above described construction comprises substantially the ordinaryabsorption cycle heat pump with the addition thereto o f a condensercoil of the type illustrated in the prior application of Gilbert Wilkes,filed December `24:, 1931, 30 I Serial #583,125 for house temperaturecontrolling apparatus. In adapting such cycle to heating of an area Athe condenser is disposed in a casing C forming a portion of the duct Dhaving arranged therein a suitable blower B and con- 35 nected with thearea A at its opposite end. The intake end of the duct is branched asindicated at 28 and 29, the branch 29 forming a by-pass extendingthrough the central opening II of the generator-absorber I 0. Passage ofair through 40 the branch 28 or 29 is controlled by a damperl 30 underelectrical control including a coil 3|. Within the area A a thermostat32 is arranged, this thermostat including a timing mechanism 33 and anoperating coil 3d for valve I5. Coil 3| shunts 45 the coil 34 andthermostat 32 in the circuit with the result that, at each closure ofthe circuit by the timing mechanism, coil 3l is operated shifting damper38 to a position where it diverts ow from the channel 29 of duct D tothe channel 28 there- 50 of. If at the time of closure of the circuit bytimer 33 the thermostat 32 `is closed, coil 34 is actuated opening valveI5, and supplying the burner E3, with the result that the chamber I2 isheated.

Thus, in normal operation during supply of gas to the burner I3 air isdrawn through the channel 28 of duct D and forced through the condenserto be heated thereby as it passes through the casing C and the outletbranch of duct D to the area. A. When the timing mechanism opens thecircuit, the ilow of air is through the channel 29 of duct D with theresult that this air is heated and serves to cool the chamberv I2. Atthis time, of course, the condenser is going out of operation so thatthe absorbent contained lin the chamber I2 constitutes the main heatingmeans for`the air, particularly toward the close of the off cycle.

It will be understood that at certain times, as in extremely coldweather, the heat pump may prove insufllcient to heat the area A to thedesired temperature, in which event the thermostat 32 would remainclosed and heating of the generator-absorber would be continuous throughall closed periods. In this event, the off period cycle of operation ofthe timing mechanism will prove insufficient to permit cooling of theabsorption liquid to an extent providing re-absorption, which conditioncontinuing will result in absorption liquid being driven 01T from thegeneratorabsorber and passing to the section I6 of the condenser. Undersuch circumstances, we provide means, as a pressure-controlled valve Vwhereby the increased pressure or increased temperature in section I6 iscaused to place the lower end of this section in communication through atrap 35 and conduit 36 with the intake of chamber I2. Generator-absorberII), section I6 of the condenser and the connections I8 and 36 nowprovide a direct gas-ilred heating system of which the condenser sectionI6 comprises a radiator arranged in the duct so that the additional heatnecessary .to supply the demands of area A will be supplied. f

Operation of thisgas-flred heating system will not interfere with theoperation of the heatpump cycle `which will continue to delivercondensed refrigerant to the evaporator 24 where it will absorb heatand, in off periods of the generatorabsorber, return the same to theabsorber I0. In disposing the sections I1 and I6 of the condenser in thecasingv C it is important that the section Il be arranged in advance asregards the proximity to the incoming air supply, which section innormal operation is the less highly heated, circulation of therefrigerating medium through the condenser being through section I6,conduit 22 and section Il. Therefore, such disposition of the sectionswill result in the section I1 being attacked by the cooler air whilecontaining the cooler refrigerant resulting in more rapid condensation.

In Fig. 2 we have illustrated a modification of this arrangement whereinthe generator-absorber III-a instead of being directly heated, is steamor water heated by a separate heating plant shown as in the form of agas-fired boiler 31, intermittently connected with a chamber III-b ofthe generator-absorber IIl-a by means of a timing device 33 controllingthe damper 30 and a three-way valve 3'l-a. In this form of the inventionan auxiliary heater 38 is placed in the casing C and connected inparallel with the generator-absorber Ill-a. The valve V controlled bypressure or temperature in the generator-absorber IIl-a of the condenseris placed to interrupt circulation through the auxiliary heater 38.When, for any reason, the heat demand of area A exceeds the availablesupply of the heat pump, excessive heat or pressure will cause valve Vto open, placing the heater 38 in circulation to augment the heatingvaction of the heat pump. The heat pump cycle, with the exception of theomission of the connection 36, and the air circulating system may beidentical with the system above described, as may be the controls forthe gas valve, I5 supplying the burner I3 of the boiler 3l. It will benoted that in each instance, the

heating means for operation of the generatorabsorber acts to supplyauxiliary heat in event of excessiveV demands. Obviously, by employing avalve system such as that shown in the prior application aboveidentified the heat pump may be made reversible to enable thearea A tobe cooled.

It is to be understood that the controls illustrated for providingintermittent operation of the generator-absorber and for controlling thedamper are capable of considerable modiilcation without in any mannerdeparting from the spirit of the invention; we do not, therefore, wishto be limited to the particular construction shown except as hereinafterclaimed.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for heating and in combination with anv area to beheated, an absorption cycle heat pump comprising a generator-absorber, acondenser and an evaporator arranged in series, a casing duct-connectedwith said area for the circulation of a fluid, and means for causingcirculation of the iluid, said condenser being disposed in said casing,the duct connections between said casing and said area comprisingparallel duct branches with one of which said generator-absorber is inheat transfer relation.

2. In apparatusfor heating and in combination with an area to be heated,an absorption cycle heat pump comprising a generator-absorber, acondenser and an evaporator arrangedv in series, a casing duct-connectedwith said area for the circulation of a fluid, means for causingcirculation of the fluid, said condenser being disposed in said casing,the duct connections between said casing and said area comprisingparallel duct branches with one of which said generator-absorber is inheatv transfer relation, means for alternately directing the circulateduid through said duct branches and lmeans for heating saidgenerator-absorber when the flow of uid is through the duct branch notin heat transfer relation to` said generator-absorber.

3. In apparatus for heating and in combination with an area to beheated, an absorptionV cycle heat pump comprising a generator-absorber,a condenser and an evaporator arranged in series, said condenser beingin heat transfer relation to said area, heating means for saidgenerator-absorber whereby the refrigerant contained in the carrierliquid in the generatorabsorber is caused to circulate through saidcondenser and evaporator and means for 'causing circulation of .thecarrier liquid through a portion of said condenser operating inresponseto heat demands by said area in excess of that produceable by said heatpump.

4. In apparatus for heating and in combination with an area to beheated, an absorption cycle heat pump comprising a generator-absorber, acondenser and an evaporator arranged in series, a casing duct-connectedwith said area for the circulation of a fluid, means for causingcirculation of the fluid, said condenser being disposed in said casing,said generator absorber being in heat transfer relationto said duct, a

heat transfer coil in said casing, and means responsive to heat demandsby said area in excess of those deliverable by said heat pump forcirculating a fluid heating medium through said heat transfer coil.

5. In apparatus for heating and in combination with an area to beheated, an absorption cycle heat pump comprising a generator-absorber, acondenser and an evaporator arranged in series, a casing duct-connectedwith said area for the circulation of a fluid, means for causingcirculation of the uid, said condenser being disposed in said casing,the duct connections between said casing and said area comprisingparallel duct branches with one of which said generator-absorber is inheat transfer relation, a heat transfer coil in said casing, and meansresponsive to heat demands by said area in excess of those deliverableby said heat pump for circulating a fluid heating medium through saidheat transfer coil.

6. In apparatus for heating and in combination with an area to beheated, an absorption cycle heat pump comprising a generator-absorber, acondenser and an evaporator arranged in series, a casing duct-connectedwith said area for the circulation of a uid, means for causingcirculation of the fluid, said Acondenser being disposed in said casing,the duct connections between said casing and said area comprisingparallel duct branches with one of which said generator-absorber is inheat transfer relation, means for alternately directing the Icirculatingfluid through said duct branches, means for heating saidgenerator-absorber when the flow of iluid is through the duct branch notin heat transfer relation to said generator-absorber, a heat transfercoil in said casing, and means responsive to heat demands by said areain excess of those deliverable by said heat pump for circulating a uidheating medium through said heat transfer coil.

7. In apparatus for heating, and in combination with an area to beheated, means for heating a liquid, a gas circulated by heating of saidliquid, a circulation system for said gas comprising a condenser inheat-transfer relation to said area and an evaporator isolated from thearea, and means for placing the liquid in heat-transfer relation to saidarea responsive to heat demands by the area in excess of thatproduceable by circulation of the gas.

8. In apparatus for heating, and in combination with an area to beheated, means for heating a liquid, a gas circulated by heating of saidliquid, a circulation system for said gas comprising a condenser inheat-transfer relation to said area and an evaporator isolated from thearea, and means for placing the liquid in heattransfer relation to saidarea responsive to heat demands by the area in excess of that producefy9. In apparatus for heating, and in combination with an area to beheated, an absorption cycle heat pump comprising a generator-absorber, acondenser and evaporator arranged in series, a casing duct-connectedwith said area for the circulation of a fluid. means for causingcirculation of the fluid, said condenser being disposed in said casingand means controlled by excessive heat demands on said heat pump forestablishing circulation of the absorption liquid of thegenerator-absorber through said condenser.

10. In apparatus for heating air to be circulated in an area, anabsorption cycle heat pump comprising generator and absorber means, acondenser and an evaporator arranged in series, said absorber andcondenser being in heat transfer relation to the air, a heating mediumfor said generator normally out of heat transfer relation with said air,and means responsive to heat demand in excess of that producible by saidabsorber and condenser for placing the generator heating medium indirect heat transfer relation to said air while maintaining normalrelation of said medium with said generator.

l1. In apparatus for heating, the combination with an area to be heated,means to'circulate air to said area, an absorption cycle heat pumpcomprising generator and absorber means, a condenser and an evaporatorarranged in series, said absorber and condenser being in heat transferrelation with the air stream, said condenser having a high and lowtemperature zone in counterflow relation to said air stream, said hightemperature zone serving normally as a super heat zone in whichrefrigerant super heat is removed, and said loW temperature zone servingto remove the heat of vaporization of the refrigerant, and meansresponsive. to extreme heat demands for returning excess absorbent vapordirectly to the absorber from said high temperature zone.

l2. In' apparatus for heating, the combination with an areato be heated,means to circulate air to said area, an absorption cycle heat pumpcomprising generator and absorber means, a condenser and an evaporatorarranged in series,

said absorber and condenser being in heat transfer relation with the airstream, a heating unit disposed after said condenser in the air streamand receiving heat from the same source as the generator in response toheat demands in excess of the capacity of the heat pump.

GILBERT WILKES.

JOHN S. AVERY.

